richon@stsci.EDU (Joel Richon) (03/06/91)
I am posting this as a favor for the author. His e-mail address is pollizzi@stsci.edu. Please don't send me mail. ---------- Dear Society Member, If the DECUS Board of Directors follows through with their current plans, you will soon be receiving a ballot (separate from the electoral ballot you should already have) asking you to vote on some Bylaw changes. These changes will alter the upper organizational structure of the DECUS Society. While these changes may seem benign, the discussion of these changes has beleaguered the upper and middle levels of DECUS leadership for almost a year. These discussions have been anything but fruitful -- they have been filled with controversy, derisiveness, and venom, much to the dismay of the society leadership. These changes have been arrived at through a process that began well over a year ago. At that time, and in accordance with the Society's By-Laws, the Board convened a task force to draft a plan for an "organizational audit". The audit was carried out by a prominent consulting firm (Arthur D. Little) which reported that while the Society enjoyed a strong and active volunteer base and a satisfied membership - there were difficulties, especially in communication, at the highest levels of the organization. They concluded their report with a recommendation for change. In turn, subsequent board task forces were convened to review the recommendations that ultimately resulted in the proposed Bylaws now being discussed. Unfortunately, from its very beginnings, this process has be plagued with innuendo, posturing, inflamed discussions, and an endless litany of justifications and recriminations from all sides. The result yields a murky picture a best and casts a palling cloud over the Society's leadership. Last fall, the SIG Council, which is the college of the chairs of all the Special Interest Groups, recognized the continual detrimental effect the discussions over the Bylaw Changes were having. The SIG Council by a 16 to 0 vote (with 5 members abstaining) passed a motion requesting the Board to take a hiatus (minimum of one year) in pursuing the Bylaw changes. This hiatus would have allowed time to settle concerns, and promote the building of consensus within the leadership. Regrettably, the Board elected to set aside the SIG Council's motion, and continues to aggressively pursue the changes without any clear agreement among the leadership. By nature I am not political. As an engineer, I look forward to solving problems within a team -- not debating with a colleague over resolutions. Yet I must voice my opposition to the proposed Bylaw changes, and add my support to others who call for its defeat. We have our own reasons, and see different failings, but are united in saying that these Bylaw changes MUST NOT pass. Most of all, I lament the politicizing the Board has forced upon the Society. Joe Pollizzi, SIG Chair -- Joel Richon richon@stsci.edu Space Telescope Science Institute richon%stosc@SCIVAX 3700 San Martin Drive SCIVAX::RICHON Baltimore, Md. 21218 (301) 338-5451